‘I DON’T SEE HOW TRUMP ISN’T COMPLETELY F—KED.’ That’s one senior Trump administration official’s reaction to the revelation of a memo in which fired FBI boss James Comey claims President Trump asked Comey to stop investigating Trump’s former national security adviser.
■ House Speaker Paul Ryan is in no hurry: “The last thing I’m going to do is pre-judge anything.”
■ But an Illinois Republican in Congress is now one of the first to call for an independent investigation of all things Trump.
■ Conservative blogger and radio host Erick Erickson: “I know one of the sources. And the source is solidly supportive of President Trump. … I am told that what the President did is actually far worse than what is being reported.”
■ RedState: “The Real Trump Doctrine: ‘I Did It, I’m Glad, Screw You.’”
■ Trump allegedly also asked Comey to put reporters in prison for publishing classified information.
TRUMP REMOVAL OPTIONS. The New York Times’ Ross Douthat says the 25th Amendment, which provides for the ouster of a president “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office,” could be easier than impeachment.
■ White House staffer: “We are kind of helpless.”
■ John Kass: “Are you ready for President Mike Pence?”
■ Speaking of removal: Another Confederate monument is down and out in New Orleans—this one honoring the guy who gave Trump’s attorney general his middle name.
‘AMERICA’S RELIABILITY IS NOW IN QUESTION.’ Mayor Emanuel tells Politico’s podcast “Off Message” the country’s credibility under President Trump has “come and gone like that.”
■ A new analysis finds more aldermen are voting more often against Mayor Emanuel.
‘THE LITTLE GIRL PULLED FROM THE LAKE HAS PASSED AWAY.’ A sad tweet from the Chicago Fire Department brought an end to a drama that began at the Rogers Park lakefront.
■ Don’t let the warm weather fool you: The lake’s still deadly cold.
The Sun-Times’ Shia Kapos reports the domain’s on the market—and gubernatorial candidates may be among those kicking the tires.
‘THIS IN NO WAY INDICATES A BRIGHT AND ROSY FUTURE.’ Media critic Robert Feder and (ahem) others assess the future of the Sun-Times under a prospective merger with the Chicago Tribune’s parent company.
■ Some of the companies that refused to buy the Sun-Times.
■ Washington Post editor Marty Baron: “There’s a direct connection between investigative reporting and subscriptions.”
REASONS TO STAY HOME.
■ 270 Chicago-area McDonald’s restaurants will now deliver your food.
■ Carjackings in Chicago nearly doubled last year.
THE HAUNTING OF JIMMY FALLON. The New York Times says Fallon “was on top of the world. Then came Trump.”
■ NPR: Can you copyright a joke?
■ The MP3 format is officially dead.
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